History of AEWRON ONE
NOTE: The following was taken verbatim from the 1963 - 1964 Yearbook. If anyone has the combined statistics for all the years this squadron was in existence, please email them to the WebMaster, Martha McKnight.
Airborne Early warning Squadron ONE was commissioned in 1952 at NAS Barber's Point, Hawaii as the first land-based AEW squadron in the Pacific. Squadron aircraft were PB_1W's (B-17's). In 1953 the present type aircraft was received...the WV-2, Warning Star, a radar configured version of the Lockheed Super Constellation, now designated the EC-121 K.
In 1957 VW-1 moved its homeport from Hawaii to Guam, where the Commanding Officer has since then traditionally been commander fleet Air Detachment, Guam. As VW-1 is a unit of the Seventh fleet, the additional designation as Commander Task Group 70.3 has been made. Task Group 70.3 includes both VW-1 and VAP-61.
The mission of VW-1 is "to locate, tract, and report tropical cyclones, including typhoons, in the assigned area of responsibility and to provide AEW services for the Seventh fleet."
Administratively, VW-1 is under Commander fleet Air Western Pacific, operationally, it is under Commander Seventh Fleet. However the primary mission assigned by CNO is weather reconnaissance. The squadron also is controlled operationally by CINCPACFLT through their subordinate: Fleet Weather Center/Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam.
To perform its mission, VW-1 is authorized 61 officers, 395 men, and 8 aircraft. Seven aircraft are EC-121 K's and one is a c-121 J for training.
During the past year, VW-1 flew a total of 5366 hours in support of its assigned mission. Of this total 1200 hours were flown in 198 sorties making 246 fixes or investigative flights on 19 typhoons and six tropical storms or 54.6 per cent of the total weather requirements levied on the Navy and Air Force in the FWC/JTWC Guam area of responsibility. Approximately 2300 hours were flown in providing heavy AEW coverage to ComSeventhFleet. It is noteworthy that this squadron has been nominated for the U.S. Naval Weather Services' "Outstanding Performance Award" for both 1962 and 1963.
In conclusion, one of this squadron's proudest achievements is its safety record. Since commissioning in 1952 squadron aircraft have never been involved in a major accident. As of January 1964, 82,000 accident-free hours have been flown over that 12 year period.
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